Will space heater blow circuit?

[Rev Roy]

I'd like to use a DeLonghi electric space heater to help heat my 30 amp TT...but I'm afraid it will overload the system. Anyone else using something like this? Having any problems?

[jtstromsburg]

Most of us that camp in cooler weather do use electric heaters. Switch water heater to gas, and you should be good to go. Keep in mind, any other load on that circuit (hair dryer, coffee pot, etc.) And you may trip a breaker in the camper, but that's just how you learn. I'm able to run three space heaters in my 50 amp fifth wheel, but could only run one space heater in my 30 amp travel trailer.

[Jjsav]

I use one in my 5W and if your unit is like mine. All of the plugs are on one 15 amp breaker. So if you have too many things running with the heater it will trip the breaker. We just watch what we are turning on at one time.

The other option, which I may start doing next year, is run an extension cord thru one of my slides and run it right to the pole. So the heater is seperate from the trailer.

[ynott96]

We use two 1500w electric heaters in the rv..Georgetown 374...only pulling 30 amps max...we have 50 amp system....
George

[BarryD0706]

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

I'd like to use a DeLonghi electric space heater to help heat my 30 amp TT...but I'm afraid it will overload the system. Anyone else using something like this? Having any problems?

It all depends on how many watts/amps it uses. Please post that information.

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by Jjsav

I use one in my 5W and if your unit is like mine. All of the plugs are on one 15 amp breaker. So if you have too many things running with the heater it will trip the breaker. We just watch what we are turning on at one time.

The other option, which I may start doing next year, is run an extension cord thru one of my slides and run it right to the pole. So the heater is seperate from the trailer.

You should have a 2nd circuit for wall plugs as we do in our Rockwood...the breaker is marked Conv/GFCI. On ours the kitchen/living area is on 1 circuit, bathroom/bedroom on the other.

I've added as separate, 120V male connection on our camper which is wired to an outlet by the EC and feed it from the 20A plug on the site's power box. Depending on how the box has been wired, you may be able to draw 20A in addition to the 30A...a power box with 50/30/20A shouldn't be an issue.

Dave

[KyDan]

We just camped 5 nites over 2 weekends using a electric heater.
We have a 30 amp trailer.
I left my water heater on electric.
We did not trip any breakers.
We can't perk coffee on the same circuit as the heater but other than
that, we've had no problems.

The water heater is on a separate breaker than the outlet that we use
for the heater.
Of course everything goes thru a 30 amp breaker in the trailer and another
on the power post. We've never tripped either of those.
YMMV

[Herk7769]

ShopDeLonghi.com Flat Panel Tower Ceramic Heater}

1500 Watts or 12.5 amps @ 120 volts.

[Rev Roy]

Thanks, folk. Looks like I can run it. Just need to be careful what else I try to run at the same time.

[Chrisbrock]

I have been running one at nights along with my electric water heater on also. Mine has done well. First couple of below 30 nights we had I ran the furnace but blew through most of my propane gas in just 3 days... lol... so scratch that. Refilled for $28 down the street but are just using a safe space heater to keep the inside of the coach from dipping into freezing temps

[Chrisbrock]

[KyDan]

This has been mentioned here before but for the newer folks....

If you are camped at a power post and have a 30 or 50 amp trailer and
need more heat than you can get from one heater- you can plug a
heavy duty extension cord into the duplex (normal household) receptacle
on the power post and snake that thru the seal on one of your slides and
plug in another heater or coffee pot.
That receptacle on the power post is typically on it's own separate breaker
so you are not overloading the 30 or 50 amp that's powering the rest of your
trailer.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Chrisbrock

I have been running one at nights along with my electric water heater on also. Mine has done well. First couple of below 30 nights we had I ran the furnace but blew through most of my propane gas in just 3 days... lol... so scratch that. Refilled for $28 down the street but are just using a safe space heater to keep the inside of the coach from dipping into freezing temps

Chris, we like to be toasty and found the same as you- with 50-degree days and 30-degree nights, we would use about an entire 30lb. propane tank every other day or so unless with augment with space heaters.

[GASPEDDLER]

We use this model from Walmart. I've never tripped any breakers using it at night. During the day I"d be careful what other appliances get turned on while heater is cycled on.

[camper1999]

It should be okay as long as you manage your usage. I think someone mentioned about switching your water heater to gas or shut it off at night like I do, when using gas. and don't run the heater, microwave, and a hair dryer at the same time.

[youroo]

Install one of these thru the wall of your unit. Youroo!!

[Lloydg]

Herk summed it up when he wrote "1500 Watts or 12.5 amps @ 120 volts".. This is derived from ohms law that says power (watts) = amps x volts. You can figure out what your 15 amp or 20 amp circuit will consume by looking at the rating plate of the item or items you plan to use and divide the total number of watts by the voltage and determine what your consumption is. i.e; watts/volts = amps. Hope this helps others determine the number of amps they will consume before they blow that circuit.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by youroo

Install one of these thru the wall of your unit. Youroo!!

A pair of black and white X's will do that, that's amazing!

[biken201]

We ran the pictured (lower left-hand corner of the pic) 1500w heater for the duration of our stay at Catalina SP (Tucson, AZ) last January; and it (along with the furnace) kept us reasonably warm. Granted, we also had four 100lb hairy heat producers to assist with the warming, but the heater ran all night without blowing a fuse or other issue. If you notice, the temp outside at the time the picture was taken was around 14* F.

The forecasted lows were only supposed to be in the upper 20s, so the extreme (for AZ) cold was unexpected. Although I wouldn't recommend exposing a Roo to those types of temps without winterizing, ours weathered it well and we experienced no damage from the cold.

Back to the original questions: Our experience is that a 1500w electric heater is not a problem to run while on shore power.

[Arn]

Originally Posted by Jjsav

The other option, which I may start doing next year, is run an extension cord thru one of my slides and run it right to the pole. So the heater is seperate from the trailer.

That is what I do. Most poles have a separate 15a receptacle.